Father Emmanuel’s Weekly Homily
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5 / 11 / 25
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER For the times we failed in the past, let us bring our regrets to the altar at Mass, where mercy meets memory, where Christ makes all things new that we may not have to weep later over what we failed to choose today. May we not look back one day and say, “I missed the moment.” Instead, may we look back and say, “Thank God I said yes.” Through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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5 / 4 / 25
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THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER My dear people of the resurrection, as we go back home to that family meeting today, as we go to our office tomorrow, as we work on that next government policy, as we play our role in the Church Council, and as we have that casual conversation about someone else in their absence, are we ready to bear witness to the Truth? We must be careful what we say. Yes, we must watch what we say, not for fear of kings, but for reverence of Christ. Because every time we think, speak, or act, the King of kings is present. And to Him alone will we give account. |
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4 / 27 / 25
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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER My dearly beloved in Christ, today, Jesus comes back to those who abandoned him. He forgives them without asking for an apology; he forgives them without robbing their failure on their face. And he has empowered them to go and forgive others. Yes, he has forgiven us all and wants us to pass the forgiveness on to others. As we celebrate the Mercy of God in our lives today, let us go out and forgive one more person who has hurt us, and may that act bring us the peace that the world cannot give, and the peace that the world cannot take away from us, through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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4 / 20 / 25
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EASTER SUNDAY In popular parlance, “When a wise person points at the star for the foolish person to see, the foolish person will end up gazing at the wise person’s finger instead of the star.” My dearly beloved in Christ, the empty tomb has changed the meaning of death for Christians. Let us pray that this event of the empty tomb may open our eyes to realize that those who place everything in God’s hands will see God’s hands in everything until we come to our heavenly inheritance through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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4 / 13 / 25
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PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD My dearly beloved in Christ, may our Love for God overcome all evil influences until we come to our heavenly inheritance, through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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4 / 6 / 25
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FIFTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT My dearly beloved in Christ, the season of Lent is a season for our spiritual growth. This growth entails sacrifices, pains, and discomfort. Some comfort comes from going back to or doing only that which is familiar, but in the long run, that comfort will be counterproductive. |
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3 / 30 / 25
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT My dearly beloved in Christ, In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus assures us that there will be greater joy in heaven over the conversion of one sinner than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need repentance (cf. Luke 15: 7). Let us be agents of reconciliation, let us go in search of our lost brothers and sisters. However, if we cannot bring them back home, please, let us not become obstacles when they find their way back home. |
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3 / 23 / 25
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THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Each new day is a fresh opportunity for us to bear fruits and do something good for others. Since we are not sure of which new day will be our last chance, if you have something good to do, better do it now! |
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3 / 16 / 25
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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Yes, glory awaits us, but we must first overcome all challenges on our way. God has given us so many helps in the sacraments, sacramentals, prayers, fasting, almsgiving, and great witnesses. All we need to do is make the best of these channels of grace. As we continue this journey, let us pray that all the stumbling blocks we encounter may become steppingstones leading us from one level of glory to another until we come to our heavenly inheritance through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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3 / 9 / 25
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FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT My dearly beloved in Christ, the Christian life is not a destination but a journey. Let us take this season of Lent to constantly ask God, “What exactly do you want me to do now?” And let us pray for the grace to be humble enough to listen to the details of each instruction from God, and to carry them out according to his will so that at the end of our sojourn here on earth, he would welcome us into heaven with the words, “Welcome good and faithful servant, you did all I asked you to do. Now enjoy the eternal reward I prepared for you. Amen. |
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3 / 2 / 25
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EIGHTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It is an invitation for us to courageously look in the mirror and address the person in the mirror; then, it will become easier to be a good example to others. In Jesus’ words, “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye |
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2 / 23 / 25
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SEVENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME My dearly beloved Christ, loving those who hate us is not as easy as it sounds. That is why we keep hanging on to God’s as we pray that God may forgive us our sins and help us to forgive those who sin against us until we come to our heavenly inheritance through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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2 / 16 / 25
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SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME “Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing me here today. Please, deliver me from all forms of self-deception. Empty me of myself, and fill me up with you so that everyone I encounter today may experience you in me to the glory of God and for our salvation. Amen.” |
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2 / 9 / 25
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FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME My dearly beloved Christ, on that day in heaven, when Jesus comes and introduces himself and shows how much he paid, how much he gave up for us, what will you say to him? Will you say, “I surrendered all,” “I surrendered some,” or “I surrendered none”? The choice is yours. |
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2 / 2 / 25
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FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD As St. Theresa of Calcutta would say, “I have found the paradox that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” May the light of Christ continue to overcome all the forces of darkness around us until we come to our heavenly inheritance, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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1 / 26 / 25
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THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME My dearly beloved in Christ, we must not take for granted the all-important ministry of listening to the Word of the Lord. Listening is part of that “full, active, conscious participation” that the Second Vatican Council requires of us in the Sacred Liturgy. Today’s Psalm reminds us that the words of God are Spirit and life. May our listening to God’s word bring life to all that is dead in us and around us, and may our hearing of God’s word in the Liturgy bring about the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives both now and forever. Amen. |
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1 / 19 / 25
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SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME My dearly beloved in Christ, today’s passage shows Mary’s sacrifice to let go of Jesus for our salvation. Because she encouraged Jesus to perform his first public miracle, we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary today and say, “Thanks, Mom!” |
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1 / 12 / 25
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BAPTISM OF THE LORD My dearly beloved in Christ, know yourself and be yourself. When you grow, become a better version of yourself, do not grow to become someone else. If you are bent on becoming someone else, there is no vacancy; everyone else has been taken, and you are the only one left. So, be yourself, pick yourself up, and move on! |
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1 / 5 / 25
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FEAST OF THE EPPHANY OF THE LORD My dearly beloved in Christ, please, be like the star of Bethlehem so that after our sojourn here on earth, Jesus would say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant, now enjoy the kingdom prepared for you.” Amen. |